The University of Sydney and New York University (NYU), two of the world’s leading research institutions, have signed a new research cooperation agreement that will strengthen academic ties and expand opportunities for collaborative research and research-related activities across both universities.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global and Research Engagement) Professor Kathy Belov said the partnership reflects the University’s commitment to fostering world‑class international research collaboration.
“NYU is an exceptional global research institution, and this agreement creates new avenues for our academics to work together on ambitious, high impact projects,” Professor Belov said. “By partnering with NYU, we are expanding our global network and, together, addressing the greatest science and engineering challenges of our time.”
Expanded opportunities for collaborative research
Signed in December 2025, the agreement will support joint initiatives across science and engineering, enabling researchers from both universities to pursue collaborative projects, co‑author publications, share facilities and expertise, and participate in joint workshops, symposia, and research exchanges.
Professor Juan de Pablo, Executive Vice President for Global Science and Technology and Executive Dean of the Tandon School of Engineering at New York University, said the agreement reflects NYU’s commitment to building strong global research partnerships.
“The University of Sydney and NYU both have long traditions of excellence and pushing boundaries in science and engineering," Professor de Pablo said. “The partnership that we're putting in place will unite our collective strengths in areas including quantum technologies, computational biomedicine, and environmental resilience, and create tremendous opportunities for our students and faculty to collaborate across disciplines and hemispheres to solve critical global challenges.”
The agreement builds on an already active relationship that has supported almost 300 student exchange opportunities since 2021. Under this education agreement, the University of Sydney has served as the Australian base for NYU’s global campus model, enabling NYU students to spend a semester in Sydney studying NYU-taught units and University of Sydney units. More than 100 Sydney students have taken up the opportunity to study with NYU at the main campus in New York or at one of the 13 NYU global sites.
Building a long-term global research partnership
The agreement lays the foundation for future initiatives, including joint seed funding schemes, shared research programming, and expanded networks across both universities.
As global research challenges become increasingly interconnected, the University of Sydney and NYU are committed to fostering a long-term partnership that supports impactful, interdisciplinary research.
“This agreement reflects our vision for a globally connected research ecosystem,” Professor Belov said. “We look forward to building a strong and enduring partnership with NYU that will drive scientific and engineering breakthroughs for years to come.”